IllustrationENGINE: WHEN ENGINE IS COLD MOTOR RACE UP AND DOWN AT 1800 RPMS, AFTER SITTTING FOR 9 MINUTES IT WENT TO 900 RPMS. DEALER SAID ALL PATHFINDERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT.W HEN STARTING VEHICLE ONE DOESN'T KNOW HOW FAST IT'S GOING TO ACCELERATE AND DON'T HAVE TO TOUCH THE GAS. *AK
1987 Nissan Pathfinder
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Pathfinder years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 19 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Seat Belts. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
19 reportsCONSUMER STATES THAT HE HAS REPLACED THE CLUTCH (3) TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND THE CLUTCH NEEDS TO REPLACED AGAIN. HAS HAD VEHICLE FOR (2) YEARS AND (9) MONTHS. *AK
HEATER CORE HOUSING CAUGHT FIRE. *DSH
SEAT BELT; FAILURE ON THE REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLE, THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE SEAT BELT IS BROKEN/CRACKED. *AK
THE CABLE THAT CONNECTS THE SEAT BELT TO THE FLOOR OF THE TRUCK IS BREAKING. TT
BOTH SEATBELT BUCKLES ON REAR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT FASTEN AT ALL. TT
REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED. *SKD
FALSE LATCHING OF SEAT BELT BUCKLE AND SHOULDER HARNESS DOESN'T RETRACT PROPERLY. TT
RUBBER CUSHIONING ON STEERING WHEEL BROKE AWAY FROM PIN IN THE MIDDLE, THIS COULD CAUSE CHEST INJURY UPON VEHICLE IMPACT. TT
Official recalls
290V072000 · Equipment:other:labels
Apr 17, 1990
INCORRECT TIRE INFLATION PRESSURES WERE PRINTED ON CERTIFICATION LABELS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: INCORRECT TIRE INFLATION COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: INSTALL CORRECTED TIRE INFORMATION LABEL ON DOORPOST CERTIFICATION LABEL.
87V137000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
Sep 4, 1987
MISMATCH OF MALE AND FEMALE REAR SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE SEAT BELTS CAN NOT BE BUCKLED AND PASSENGERS AREUNABLE TO USE THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM.
Remedy: INSPECT AND REPLACE ALL MISMATCHED BELT ASSEMBLIES.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA95007 · Takata Seat Belt Buckle Failure
Opened Mar 10, 1995 · Closed Aug 2, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
There is no summary currently available